Visiting UK with Doug

Both these items have been our best friends over the past 10 weeks although I have to say the heater was our BFF on more days than I wish to remember. I think the sunscreen was used more against 'windburn' than sunburn! We were looking forward to our return to Brisbane until we heard that a 100 year record was broken when it went down to 2.5 on Friday morning. I know it's winter but that's ridiculous. Climate change! Better get planning the next trip. Thanks for the memories Alistair

My man - always hanging out with the "birds".
We drove the Tweed Coast Tourist Drive from Pottsville to Tweed Heads stopping at Cabarita Beach, Kingscliff and Rainbow Beach. Fantastic weather as we get closer to home.

Rainbow Beach looking across to the Gold Coast, fabulous place to have lunch on  the final day of our 10 week trip inland from NSW to Victoria and South Australia.

As the school holidays were coming to an end we decided to hangout at Hastings Point for the weekend and let all the traffic sort itself out before we travel on our final stage home. We heard there has been a whale sighting so made our way to the lookout only to be disappointed once again. Lots of people but a camera shy whale. Surely he knows the photo would have made the papers!

Not to be outdone this Osprey kept circling above, no doubt laughing at us all standing in the cold waiting for a sighting.

Whales or no whales this fisherman wasn't letting the incoming tide worry him.

Big 4 Emerald Beach just north of Coffs Harbour - beautiful hideaway, close to the beach and many cafes. A very natural setting with Wallabies and kookaburra's wandering all through the park. Very relaxing and could have spent more time there.  Also set amongst residential homes but so different from Manning Point yet the same cost - no comparison. Forgot to take the camera on our walk so it will just have to be a memory.

Big 4 Manning Point was next stop, sadly no photo's as the park may have been touted to be between the beach and the Manning River, you'd never know it as it is actually stuck in the middle of a very tired residential area and you can't see either from anywhere in the park. And they had the hide to charge $30.60 per night. It is one of those out of the way places off the main highway otherwise we would have turned around and gone somewhere else.
One night and never again!

As we are definitely on our way home we decided to travel via the NSW South Coast and stay at places we have not visited before. Canton Beach at Toukley was our first stop from Canberra. Had to get there and set up early as this was the night that NSW Blues would be awarded the Trophy! Sadly we didn't make it 3-0 but the trophy is back where it belongs.

Moved on to Canberra and visited my old childhood home built in 1964. Not a lot has changed except for that the front yard tree that all of us used as a swing has almost eclipsed the house. Winter is never the best time to visit as we were there for 3 days and had morning temperatures were -4, -2, -4 with a good frost to boot. Thanks for the memories Canberra!

Our street was named after  F/Lt W E Newton a VC recipient.

Arrived in Moruya on the NSW South Coast where we caught up with long time friends Allyson & Ian Hamilton. They were celebrating their 39th wedding anniversary so we were also able to catch up with Natalie, Dave & the boys - great time had by all. It really does feel like we are homeward bound once we start travelling through familiar places we used to go for weekends when we lived in Canberra.

Oasis in Moruya or Top Tourist caravan park? Drive through sites were at the back of the park overlooking the mountains but right next to the river. Great location as you could also walk over the bridge into the town and the weekend markets.

Historic Tathra Wharf  built for large boats transporting cattle & pigs to Sydney in the late 1800's. Recently 4 lives were lost in this bay area - a 28 year old father and his 2 sons were fishing on the wharf when the pram rolled over and he dived in to save the boys and all drowned and then a local woman swimming with her husband and other club members was taken by a shark in this bay.

The shed at the Tathra Wharf was converted into Café/Restaurant & Art Gallery using all the old beams boat material where possible. This wharf leads up to a Memorial Garden that was started by a local when she realised that Tathra didn't have a cemetery so the garden walk is lined with plaques remembering the locals.

The shed has large loading doors that open wide and become the most amazing picture windows overlooking the bay area. You can also see Frankie J Holden's caravan park lining the beach opposite.

Merimbula beach on the Sapphire Coast - it certainly sparkles. It was wonderful to welcome a fine sunny day after 2 weeks or more of on again off again wind and rain.

Some were game to surf the water but not my man. He reckons this is the only way to enjoy the winter sun! There were 4 of these deck lounge chairs at this spot which overlooks the Back Lake that feeds into the sea.

Sapphire Coast Top Tourist Park - every Monday to Thursday they cook up free Pancakes at 10am. Needless to say we had a late breakfast every day we were there. This was Alistair's plate - you could actually see the jam on my pancakes! Great park with heated pool and spa area, giant chess & draught games and very sheltered from the wind.